Bucs Hot Reads: Team trades for G Johnson

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday continued to make good on their promise to bolster the offensive line, trading safety Kelcie McCray to the Kansas City Chiefs for guard prospect Rishaw Johnson.

An Ole Miss product, Johnson (6-foot-5, 313 pounds) was an undrafted free agent with Seattle in 2012 but received his first playing time (three games, one start) last year in Kansas City.

“He’ll be a guard for us, but he’s played a little bit of center, also,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “So, he gives us a little bit of flexibility there. He’s a big athlete, young, looks pretty good on video.’’

The trade was the third move the Bucs made in the past two days in an effort to bolster the line. They also signed undrafted first-year guard R.J. Mattes on Thursday and claimed tackle Edawn Coughman off waivers from Buffalo on Wednesday.

By the numbers

The Bucs are in danger of suffering their first 0-3 start to the preseason since 1988. Tampa Bay, under coach Ray Perkins, went 5-11 during the regular season that year.

Coming attractions

Smith plans to have P Mike Koenen attempt an extra point or field goal during one of the two remaining preseason games. Koenen regularly handles kickoff duties.

Quote of the day

“We would like to win, but we need to see certain guys. If we were just interested in winning, we would play our best players every down. We’re not doing that.’’